Roel Meelkop

Finale

‘Finale’ is the track I would like to hear when I am dying. I am aware of the fact that the likelihood of this happening is very slight, if not utterly impossible. To be clear, I am speaking about the listening part, not the dying part. On the other hand, I may listen to it on an irregular basis from now on, to see what will stay stored in my memory and then hope that I will be able to play it in my head on this occasion. However, if I die of old age it may be a mistake to think I will still remember this track. Instead I will probably be flooded by much older memories, going back to my earliest childhood. The chance that my brain will dig up this track is very small indeed. And in the case of sudden death, there is surely not enough time left. So, is this all in vain? Difficult to say, I suppose, but as with all art, it is always worth the trouble. I must admit that the idea of engaging with the subject of death and dying is relatively new to me. I have always been more of a person to look forward, not backwards. But as I get older, this is slowly changing and death comes inevitably nearer. Also, more and more, events from the past keep popping up in my mind, in a state of half sleep especially. So maybe I should listen to this then, as a means of looking forward.

‘Finale’ is a mono track, I believe the listening experience while dying should be as plain and simple as possible. The track itself is also simple, no difficult structures or sudden changes. I believe it can induce a dreamy state of well-being in which I may peacefully surrender. Onward!

– Roel Meelkop, July 2023

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